Ten years ago, I ventured to the Abacos, where I met up with Hull No. 1 of Hatteras Yachts’ new convertible line: the GT series. The sport-fisherman was 60 feet length overall, and on test day, winds were blowing at 40 mph. Powered with 1,800 hp Caterpillar diesels, the GT60 made a 36-knot cruise in some serious chop. She rode rock-solid on an infused, solid-fiberglass hull, a variable-deadrise design and a wave-splitting entry.
The GT60 led to equally tough 63- and 70-footers, plus the line now includes 45- and 54-foot models too. With the GT60 retired, the builder’s GT59 is filling the gap between the Hatteras GT54 and GT63.
Fishability is at the heart of all GT boats. The cockpit on the GT59 has a mezzanine geared for big-game enthusiasts. There is room in the bait freezer for a tournament’s worth of ballyhoo and mullet, and tackle drawers will stow countless favorite marlin lures.
Several accommodations options are designed for fun-fishing families or hardcore competing crew. The standard layout is three staterooms, two heads, with an amidships master to port, a forepeak VIP with a step-up queen, and a starboard stateroom with bunks abaft the VIP. The VIP can also be set up with bunks, and the space to starboard at the foot of the companionway stairs leading down from the salon can be outfitted as a third head, workbench or tackle-stowage room.
Working on a proven hull form with an angler-friendly layout and front-of-the-pack speed, Hatteras Yachts is right to expect that the GT59 will be a tournament contender for at least another 10 years.
Take the next step by visiting Hatteras Yachts.
